Suspended ventilating ceiling and ventilating runner therefor



w. B. JONES 3,426,496

D VENTILATING CEILING AND VENTILATING RUNNER THEREFOR Feb. 11, 1969 SUSPENDZ Filed June 9. 1965 United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a ventilating type suspension grid that ventilates through the web, the web comprises two spaced members to define the ventilating passage and at intervals along the length thereof one of the members is depressed inwardly to the center line to accommodate the extending tongue of either a ventilating or non-ventilating cross runner.

The present invention relates to grid systems for suspended ceilings. In particular, it relates to an improved ventilating runner for use in combination with like runners and with conventional runners and conventional cross-members.

Heretofore grid systems of the type to support lay-in panels have employed simple runners and cross-members of inverted T-shape with single thicknesses of vertical web. With such as system ventilation has been effected by passages through the panels. However, it is known to ventilate through the grid members, preferably the long parallel runners between which cross-members of the grid are secured to the runners. In such ventilating system the vertical web portion of the runner has two spaced parallel walls forming a space for passage of air therethrough. Because such runners provide less space between them for the receipt of the cross-member, the latter are made special.

It is the object of the present invention to provide ventilating runners which may be used in a system with like runners or with conventional runners, and to provide cross-members which may be used in a single ceiling between any combination of ventilating runners and nonventilating runners.

It is a particular object to provide a ventilating runner which presents the same means for union with a crossmember as does a non-ventilating runner.

The invention is explained by reference to the accompanying drawings which present the various conditions and combinations for use of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic representations of suspending grids showing different arrangements and combinations of its members, and showing one piece in cross-section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section in detail taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 3 looking to the left and showing the opening occupied in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-section taken on line 55 of FIG. 3 showing two locking unions of cross-members to a runner.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of a ventilating runner taken on a line such as 6-6 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of a ventilating runner taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 is partly diagrammatic and represents a portion of a suspension grid looking down to it. It has three conventional T-runners 10, 10 and 10 each with a vertical single-thickness web 12, and oppositely directed bottom flanges 14 and 16. Between runners 10 and 10 ice is a ventilating runner 17, having two spaced parallel strips 18 and 20, in its vertical web structure forming a space 24, and having oppositely directed bottom flanges 26 and 28. The distance between the outer edges of flanges 14 and 16 is the same as the distance between the outer edges of flanges 26 and 28, thus making in FIG. 1, the flanges 26 and 28 narrower than flanges 14 and 16.

Between each pair of adjacent runners are cross-members 30, all identical. These have vertical webs 32 and bottom flanges 34 and 36 of the same width as flanges 14 and 16. The union between the cross-member 30 and the runners is later described, but it is pointed out that in FIG. 1 there are two unions of cross-members with each of the runners 10, 10 and 10 at the same location. In FIG. 2, there is only one union at a location.

FIG. 2 shows another series of runners in sequence 17 17, 10 and 10*, with the cross-members 30' of the same structure as cross-members 30, but in staggered relation so that there is only one union at each location on a runner.

The union of cross-member to runner employed herein is a well-known one, and is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, as heretofore used. FIG. 3 shows a runner 10 in crosssection, and two opposite cross-members 30 and 30* joined to it. Cross-member 30 has its flanges 34 and 36 coplanar with runner flanges 14 and 16. The ends of flanges 34 and 36 are offset upwardly to provide portions 38 overlying flanges 14 and 16, and shoulders 40 opposing the edges of flanges 14 and 16.

The vertical web 32 of the cross-member has at each end a projecting tongue passing through an opening in web 12 of runner 10 and locked therein against withdrawal. FIG. 3 shows tongue 42 extending from web 32 of cross-member 30. A resilient rectangular tab 44 with three sides cut from tongue 42 is bent outwardly from the tongue on line 44.

FIG. 4 is a view of a side of web 12 looking to the left in FIG. 3, showing flange 1.6 and an opening 46 through the Web. The opening 46 is in effect two slots for two tongues 42. The slots are merely joined at their mid-portions for mechanical convenience without function, thus maintaining in elfect separate functioning slots 48 and 50. Thus, slot 48 receives: the tongue 42 shown in full lines, and slot 50 receives the tongue 42' shown in dotted lines and extending from the right hand cross ing member 30 (FIG. 3). In FIG. 5 the locking of the tongues is shown by the spring tab 44 against web 12.

The ventilating runners 17 are provided with a slotopening like the opening 46 shown in FIG. 4, and at a location which is the central line of the runner as is the location of the slot-opening 46 with respect to runners 10. This is accomplished by depressing that portion of one of the walls 18 and 20 which is to have the opening, so that the opening lies in the center line of the runner, and at the same time an opposite hole is formed in the other wall of size freely to pass two tongues, one as it approaches its slot and the other as it emerges from its slot.

FIG. 6 illustrates a suitable structure of the ventilating runner 17, showing it to be made of two thin pieces of sheet metal each of which provides the spaced strips 18 and 20 indicated in FIG. 1. The strip 18 and flange 26 are one piece. The second piece forms in sequence, flange 28, strip 20 extending beyond the upper edge 18 of strip 18 to the line 20' where it turns horizontally to the plane of strip 18, then vertically, then horizontally to the plane of strip 20, then vertically downward to point 20', then inward of the rectangular head 60 thus formed. This head is a reinforcement, through which holes (not shown) may be formed to receive wires which suspend the grid.

The strips 18 and 20 are held together in their spaced relation by inset dimples 18* and 20*, which meet at the center line where they are joined by a rivet R. These riveted dimples are spaced along the length of the runner to unify the two pieces as a strong unitary runner. The space between head 60 and edge 18' is at least as wide as the space 24 to serve as entry or exit for the passageway provided by space 24.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of runner 18 like FIG. 6, but taken between rivets R and at a location where a cross-member may be joined. The parts are designated by the same numerals as in FIG. 6'. Either one of strips 18 and 20 may be chosen to provide the slot means for one, but preferably for two tongues. The strip chosen may depend upon mechanical procedure in manufacture. Spaced regions along the runner are inset sufliciently to move a planar portion of the recessed strip, designated 62, to the center line of the space 24. This planar portion 62 is provided with slot-means 64 duplicating the opening 46 of FIG. 4 when two tongues may be accommodated. Thus it serves as a companion to opening 46 as much as two openings 46 are mutual companions, and it is a like companion to another opening 64 in adjacent runner 17. In FIG. 7, a tongue 66 is shown in dotted line in the position it would occupy entering from the left and through strip 18. In strip 18 opposite opening 64, there is an opening 68 of size freely to receive the tongue 66 and a second tongue from the opposite direction.

The invention not only provides a new ventilating grid member, but one which can be used with a cross-member suitable for union between two ventilating runners, or two non-ventilating runners, or between a ventilating runner and a non-ventilating runner. As a result, with a single supply of cross-members, and supplies of both ventilating and non-ventilating runners, numerous combinations of grid members may be made, as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a ceiling suspension system having a grid comprising a plurality of parallel runners and a plurality of parallel cross-members secured to and between adjacent runners, in which said runners and said cross-members have a cross-section corresponding to an inverted T with a vertical web structure, and in which each end of a crossmember has a tongue extending therefrom and passing through vertical slot means in the vertical web structure of a runner, which tongue has means cooperative with said vertical web structure for locking the tongue in fixed position in said slot means, in which at least one runner has a vertical web structure comprising two spaced parallel strips, and in which said spaced parallel strips define therebetween a ventilating passage through the runner opening on the bottom of the runner at the center line of the space between said strips, whereby ventilating air may pass generally vertically through said web structure, the improvement comprising at least one depressed region of one of said strips locating a planar area within said region vertically at said center line of said space, said vertical tongue-receiving slot means being located in said planar area, and the strip opposite said vertical slot means having an opening therein through which said tongue may pass freely.

2. A grid runner according to claim 1 in which said vertical slot means is sufiiciently Wide to receive two adjacent tongues extending from alined cross-members on the opposite sides of the runner, and in which the said opening opposite said slot means is sufiiciently large freely to pass said two tongues.

3. A suspension grid for a suspended ceiling comprising a plurality of parallel runners and a plurality of parallel cross-members secured to and between adjacent runners, said runners and said cross-members having a crosssection corresponding to an inverted T with a vertical web structure, some of said runners having a vertical web structure comprising two spaced parallel strip portions, said spaced parallel strip portions defining therebetween a ventilating passage through the runner opening on the bottom of the runner at the center line of the space between said strip portions, whereby ventilating air may pass generally vertically through said web structure, others of said runners having a vertical web structure consisting of a single-thickness of strip, said cross-members having vertical tongues extending from both ends thereof each passing through a vertical slot in a vertical strip of adjacent runners and being locked therein, each ventilating runner having one of its parallel strips deformed to locate the portion thereof having said slot at said center line of said space, and the other strip opposite said slot having an opening freely receiving a tongue.

4. A suspension grid according to claim 3 in which said deformed strip portion has vertical slot means for receiving the tongues of two alined cross-members on opposite sides of said runner, and in which the opening in the strip opposite said slot has said two tongues passing freely therethrough.

5. A ventilating runner for a grid for a suspended ceiling, which grid has a plurality of parallel runners and a plurality of parallel cross-members each joined at each end to a runner by a tongue projecting from the end of the cross-member and entering a slot in a vertical Web of a runner, said ventilating runner comprising a vertical web formed by two spaced parallel strips, said spaced parallel strips defining therebetween a ventilating passage through the runner opening as an elongated slot in the center of the bottom of the runner, whereby ventilating air may pass generally vertically through the runner, one of said strips having spaced portions thereof inwardly from the bottom of the runner depressed sufficiently to locate planar portions of said strip at the vertical center line of said passage, said planar portions having vertical slot means for receiving and locking a tongue of a crossmember, the strip opposite said slot means having an opening freely to pass said tongue.

6. A runner according to claim 5 having slot means for receiving and locking oppositely directed tongues of alined cross-members on opposite sides of said runner, said opposite strip having an opening freely to pass said two tongues.

7. A grid member for a suspended ceiling having a vertical web structure comprising two spaced vertical strips, said spaced strips defining therebetween a ventilating passage in said web structure for passage of air vertically therethrough, one of said strips having spaced regions thereof along its length depressed suificiently to locate planar areas of the strip within said regions vertically at the vertical center line of said passage, said planar areas having vertical tongue-receiving slot means, the opposite strip having tongue-passing openings opposite said slot means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,288,104 6/1946 Pasquier 52-668 2,734,126 2/1956 Kruger 52-484 3,093,221 6/ 19-63 Purdy 52-665 3,094,285 6/ 1963 Kruger 52-484 3,175,655 3/ 1965 Brown et a1 52-667 3,190,208 6/1965 Stfne et al t 52-664 3,193,063 7/1965 Brown et al 52-667 2,920,357 1/ 1960 Ericson 98-40 3,207,057 9/ 1965 Brown et al 98-40 3,354,598 11/1967 Nicholson 52-732 FOREIGN PATENTS 569,341 7/1958 Belgium.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 52-732; 98-40 

